For those trying to get onto Fort Bragg, the wait can take some time. See what's happening to make things easier.
FORT BRAGG -- The construction workers with the McCarty Corporation are not soldiers, but their jobs require them to come onto Fort Bragg every day.
But the lines at the security checkpoints can get long.
"They're going to have to leave home early to get in line for their vehicles to get searched," project safety supervisor Antoneli Caddle said of his employees who don’t have RAPIDgate badges.
The RAPIDgate program has been used at Fort Bragg for about two months. Eid Passport is the private company that runs the program that gives contractors faster access onto the post with a special security badge.
The company conducts a background check for prior felony convictions, sex offenses, and to cross-check with terror watch lists. The applicant’s fingerprint is also kept on record for future verification purposes. There’s a base $200 registration fee for a company that wants to use RAPIDgate, and it costs $160 more for each employee. Eid Passport said people in the database are re-screened every 90 days or so.
Entering Fort Bragg can take a long time.
"You pull up, show your badge, and you're in,” Caddle explained. “For the money, it's worth it."
The program is voluntary, but Fort Bragg officials said they would like to see more people use it.
Tom McCollum, who’s a spokesman for the base said the program allows their security forces to concentrate on those who don’t have the special badges and decals.
"Those people present a larger threat to us," he said.
About 120 of Caddle's workers have RAPIDgate badges, which will help them this summer when security measures change. Starting July 8, all vehicles without military decals will need to be searched and all passengers older than 16 inside will need to show identification.